to think William and Kate's Christmascard this year was badly judged?

[tinkywinkyshandbag]

So not only has William been hectoring us about climate change and sustainable travel, but there's been a pandemic which has been a pandemic which for many people has been financially devastating, and for most of us a holiday seems a distant pipe dream. So this year of all years they have chosen a photo of themselves all looking tanned and relaxed on a (presumably free) holiday. Just feels a tad ill judged?

Oh yes I see Louis like his maternal grandfather now I look again.

Meh, I actually prefer overt displays of their privilege to when they try to be relatable.

Her comments on how hard it was to homeschool the kids was the cringey-est thing ever. And don’t get me stated on Louis being plonked on a bike for 30 seconds for his “first day of school” picture, then whisked off to the car and driven there

will still need money in a Republic to preserve the historical sites

We can always use the obscene amounts diverted from the public purse directly into the royal's pockets via the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster.

we'll have someone like Boris or Tony Blair to pay for as Head of State

Someone we can vote out if they won't or can't deliver, prove to be an arrogant sleaze or have questions raised about the sale of honours and convenient fall guys unlike the unelected yet politically meddling Windsors.

The Windsors will retreat to their various personal estates - Sandringham, Balmoral, Highgrove

Highgrove is owned by the Duchy of Cornwall which means the rent Charles pays on it is magically recycled back into his own pocket by dint of Duchy profits.

So no one ever took out an injunction then, hmm?

Not every rumour is only a rumour because there is an injunction.

Errr - Charles's support has been proven, which is why he was officially criticised for it in the IICSA report

That’s not exactly what it says.

Naturally he claimed afterwards that he was fooled like so many others, but that doesn't explain his various letters bemoaning Ball's treatment, yet allegedly not knowing, or trying to find out, how that treatment arose

And you think it is entirely impossible that a paedophile, who by their very nature have to be secretive, and are usually sociopathic to some extent, can fool those close to them? You think that every single person who has any association with a paedophile MUST know what they are up to and are supportive of it? Or is it just senior royals who don’t get the benefit of that doubt?

All this angst over a Christmas card? Really?

@derxa have you seen the H&M threads? there's angst over a lot less 😆

If that is ever proven, that would be problematic

Charles lobbied Lambeth Palace on Peter Ball's behalf wrote him letters of support and bought him a house after Ball had been cautioned as a sex offender.

Someone we can vote out if they won't or can't deliver, prove to be an arrogant sleaze or have questions raised about the sale of honours and convenient fall guys unlike the unelected yet politically meddling Windsors.

Because that’s working so well or us at the moment. And have you seen what has happened to the US when there isn’t a final level of power who has some say in the matter?

@torquewench

Is this a RF bashing thread or can I say it's a lovely family photo and retreat unscathed?

This ^^

Because that’s working so well or us at the moment

It's not perfect but it's a whole lot better than having an uninspiring family with few discernible talents other than lining their own pockets dumped on us in perpetuity and having no say at all.

Charles lobbied Lambeth Palace on Peter Ball's behalf wrote him letters of support and bought him a house after Ball had been cautioned as a sex offender.

Again, a very myopic statement.

If a close friend of yours accepted a caution for something, meaning the authorities didn’t feel they could prosecute, you would immediately assume they were actually guilty and not that there could be something else going on? And this caution was about something that happened with a 19 year old man. That doesn’t mean that Charles knew he was a paedophile and supported him. Did anything Charles do, happen after he was actually convicted as a paedophile?

Remember, Cliff Richard, William Roach and others who were all over the press as being part of Yew Tree. All found not guilty. It isn’t always the case of no smoke without fire, and anyone who says they would turn their back on someone when there is no evidence is a fool.

Why do so many men have to sit with their legs open? No one really wants to see ball bulge.

Whatever they do someone will find a reason to be annoyed by it. It's a nice photo. I'm not going to lose sleep over it.

I think it’s fine. Loads of people have travelled internationally this year and I’m sure most of them took holiday photos too.

It’s a lovely photo. Louis has grown up so much!

Because that’s working so well or us at the moment. And have you seen what has happened to the US when there isn’t a final level of power who has some say in the matter?

so?

we'll have someone like Boris or Tony Blair to pay for as Head of State
We pay for them anyway. It's not like politicians do their work for free!

The RF (all of them) make me cringe. An anachronism trying to keep up with the times. Get rid of them!

so?

So “we can vote them out” isn’t always the straightforward answer people think it is.

I just thought that the photo looked like they were in a cave and moved on with my life tbh. Not sure anyone should be getting to her up about.

Loads of people I know are going or have been abroad. They are rich. Doesn't bother me. Wish I was going somewhere too.

So “we can vote them out” isn’t always the straightforward answer people think it is.

No one thinks it's straightforward though. But most understand there is a difference....

If a close friend of yours accepted a caution for something, meaning the authorities didn’t feel they could prosecute, you would immediately assume they were actually guilty and not that there could be something else going on?

The CPS has admitted there was enough evidence to prosecute:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34238259

I wouldn't continue to associate with someone known to have received a caution for sex offences, no.

What else do you think might have been 'going on'?

And this caution was about something that happened with a 19 year old man

'Something that happened' when Ball was over 60.

You think it is entirely impossible that a paedophile, who by their very nature have to be secretive, and are usually sociopathic to some extent, can fool those close to them?

Not at all; it happens all the time with people who have no way of knowing what's already taken place, what cautions have already been received and so on

But provably, Charles was sufficiently aware of what he imagined to be "monstrous wrongs" against Ball to engage heavily in supporting Ball; he even offered to "see-off this horrid man if he tries anything again” (which frankly I find worrying in itself)

And yes, these letters were written after Ball had been cautioned and resigned. If you were genuinely unaware of this I'd suggest it shows that you perhaps haven't looked into the matter sufficiently, considering this is our future monarch

The most charitable explanation is that Charles is a very poor judge of character. The other explanation is that Charles doesn't think Ball did anything wrong.

I hadn't realised Charles and Camilla's card was a photo taken in Jordan as well.
Yes I think the previous commentator was right then that this is about diplomacy with Jordan aka sucking up to the Jordan government on behalf of the British government. But I don't know for what purpose?